Castanets, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Curator: The dynamism in this piece is captivating; the way the artist has depicted movement with such simple means. Editor: I see you're immediately drawn to the composition. For our listeners, this is "Castanets," a print from 1888. It was part of the "Musical Instruments" series (N82) by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for their cigarette brand. Curator: The cigarette card aspect is revealing. It speaks to the commodification of art, even exoticized cultural performances, to fuel consumption in industrial society. Think about the mass production required, the workers involved... Editor: A sharp contrast between the romantic image and the means of its creation. Look closely at the woman's pose, her gaze; notice how her hands holding the castanets frame her face? The artist masterfully guides the viewer's eye. The application of color to suggest depth creates a delightful sense of illusion. Curator: And illusion it is. Orientalism was rampant then; the packaging of these stereotypes. The actual lived experiences of people of colour is sidelined for this spectacle, driving the profits of tobacco empires like Duke’s. It’s unsettling to realize what labor underpins these fleeting images. Editor: Certainly. However, the formal techniques are significant. Consider how the artist uses color to create a sense of depth and visual hierarchy. The reds and golds in the clothing draw us in. This combined with the softness in the veil contrasts with her harder bracelets and jewelry that create texture and an almost palpable sensory experience. Curator: Yes, even within a medium so heavily tied to commerce and exploitation, the visual construction has its own agency. Editor: Precisely. This miniature tableau is simultaneously beautiful and unsettling once one takes it at face value, a lens reflecting a broader cultural phenomenon of its time. Curator: Indeed. A valuable and succinct glimpse into a fraught historical intersection, presented as alluring entertainment, of which many like this are reminders.